EB158 - Cross-regional statement - Item 28.1 - Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

WHO

EB158

Item 28.1 – Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

Joint Cross-regional Statement

Chair,

I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of Albania, Armenia, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

We remain deeply committed to the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PRSEAH) across all sectors, including global health, as we recognise that gender-based violence, including violence against women and girls remain some of the most prevalent human rights violations and abuses in the world. PRSEAH is even more crucial when sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment involve children and adolescents, because of the severe and damaging impact on their development and health.

We commend the measures taken by WHO within its PRSEAH-strategy 2023-2025. These measures are essential for truly upholding the “do no harm” commitment in humanitarian aid, healthcare, and development work. We stress the aim of a zero-tolerance culture for all forms of misconduct within the Organization and its operations, including in high-risk fragile and humanitarian settings.

We look forward to the new WHO PRSEAH-strategy 2026-2029. We request the Secretariat to share the new strategy as soon as possible.

PRSEAH is not merely a matter of policies and procedures – it is about real transformation of attitudes and organizational culture. We emphasise the need to strengthen a culture of integrity, by setting a clear tone from the top, enhancing whistleblower protection, continue to improve internal reporting and response mechanisms and ensure that the operationalisation of the PRSEAH-strategy is timely, impartial and adequately resourced. As WHO reprioritises and embraces new, leaner ways of working, we call for PRSEAH to continue to be a priority for all parts of the organisation, for clear reporting and accountability structures, and for continued ownership by WHO senior leadership.

We call for robust monitoring of the implementation of the PRSEAH-strategy and continued regular reporting to Member States. These reports must consider a gender and survivor perspective.

We must continue to work together to ensure that the WHO sets the highest standards and leads by example. We therefore urge the WHO to 1) continue its inter-agency work on PRSEAH, and share lessons learned, tools and best practices with other UN agencies, and 2) to use the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 

We reaffirm our commitment to WHO and its PRSEAH-efforts, ensuring that the trust placed in the Organization by people around the world is honoured and protected.

Thank you.